May 18, 2024
Grilling Photography
Burgers and Peppers on the Weber
May 18, 2024
Backyard Birds
It is really neat to keep track of the birds that visit your backyard feeders.
More DetailsApr 8, 2018
Hard to “Beet”
Beet harvest came in yesterday. Well, OK. Only three beets but that was more than we cultivated last year. And oh they were good. Roasted beets with beet leaf salad was awesome. Just in case you are wondering, currently in the garden is Cilantro, Dill, Carrots, Hot Peppers and Cucumber.
Mar 18, 2018
Finishing the Race
Well, we can cross this item off the bucket list. At the beginning of the year, Katia and I decided we would run a 5K race. Now, that might not sound like much of a challenge to most, when you have never run before (or in my case, in 25 years) 3.1 miles is not a simple walk in the park. OK, maybe it is a walk in the park for some, literally, but we wanted to push ourselves. We did some training, running around the block, hitting the treadmill, etc. And then the day came, March 17. Starting at a bar in downtown Dunedin (yes, why not) and knowing that we would be ending at the same location (motivation to finish I think) we took off in a pack of some 250 other runners down the Suncoast Trail. A little less than an hour later we crossed the finish line. And guess what! We did not finish last. OK, yes, there was a 70 year old man who finished right in front of me. I am just saying I let him 🙂
P.S. Yes, I had a beer after crossing the finish line! Hey, it was St. Patrick’s Day and I was still alive.
More DetailsMar 10, 2013
Sports – The Den
Those of you who take a few minutes (or hours) out of your week to watch sports have probably had made the statement “If I had my say, I would….”. I know that I do. It does not matter if it is Football, Soccer, Baseball, Baseball, whatever. As fans, we all have things that we would like to see made changed in the world of sports.
This post could be good good size novel if I was to give you my thoughts on all sports, so I won’t, at least not in this post. So I will dedicate this one to one of the most frustrating, and to some, boring sports on the planet. SOCCER!
I will admit that I really enjoy watching soccer. I played when I was younger and I was no good at it (even after 6 years of it). Back then, it was merrily a kids game. It was not until much later that I began to appreciate the strategy of the game. When playing as a kid, it was one ball and 22 kids, 20 who were within 5 feet of the ball at all times. In reality, the game is about one ball, 22 players and roughly 8500 square yards of field. That last little bit is such an important factor in the game.
OK, I am not going to type out reasons for anyone to like the sport of soccer. But, (here it is, you have been waiting for it to come) if I was in charge of the game, these are some rules I would put into place. Only for the good of the game.
Please note, these are not in order of priority:
- I call this the back field rule: A team has 45 seconds to get the ball across mid field or they forfeit the ball in their end. There is nothing more frustrating than to watch a team kick a ball back and forth between midfielders, defenders and the keeper for two minutes. ADVANCE THE BALL! Play offense! Attack. To me, 45 seconds is plenty of time to advance the ball down the field. This would make the game much more exciting to watch.
- On the same note, the offensive team cannot pass the ball back across the mid field line when in the opponents zone. We all have seen it, a team moves into the opponents zone, pass it around, and then kick it back to a defender on their own side of the pitch. If you kick the ball back into your own zone, your team cannot touch the ball until an opponent does.
- Offsides. I truly hate this rule, but do have some understanding as to why it exists. What I would install is a line on the pitch, say 20 yards from the goal where if the ball is in this area, the offsides rule is out of play. This would make defenses actually play defense and stop playing to put a player in an offsides position.
- Injuries. This is probably the one sole thing that has turned off more people to the sport than any other. Players have mastered the art of “Diving”. They actually practice their art to perfect it. And it stinks. First, if there is a “so called foul” on the play, the player fouled has to take the kick. If the player fouled has to leave the flied of play to a “so called” injury, then both the injured player and the player who caused the foul must leave the field of play and neither can return until the next stoppage of play. Now, if there is a card on the play, the carded player has to leave the field of play for a minimum of 2 minutes, or until the next time the ball is called dead, which ever is greater. Meaning, if the 2 minutes is up and the ball is still in play, the penalized player must wait on the sideline.
- The rule above also applies for penalty kicks. Nothing is more frustrating than a player getting a “so called” foul in the box and then another player comes in to take the penalty kick. Two exceptions would be if the fouled player is injured and has to leave the field of play (see rule above). And since the clock is not running on the penal kick, the injured player cannot return until the ball is put back into play and then there is a stoppage of play. Or, if the penalty is caused by a handball in the box. Then the closest player to the ball is awarded the penalty kick. The player who caused the handball would receive a yellow card and have to sit out 2 minutes.
- Penalty Kicks at the end of regulation seem to me such an unfair way to decide a victor, but I understand the necessity or a game may never end. 5 players from each team shall be chosen, however, one of those players most be your keeper and he has to go in the first 3 of the rotation. I would also have the penalty kicks to start at mid field and the player gets a set time to dribble towards the goal and shoot. Give keepers a chance.
These rules would increase the pace of play and the excitement of the game. We do not need instant replay in soccer. And by penalizing players for trying to get fouls called by removing them from the field or putting them in the position of having to put the ball in play, would be a good eye opening and hopefully game changing play.
I most definitely welcome all comments. Please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post.
More DetailsMar 3, 2013
Menus – The Den
One of my favorite things to do is cook. One of my not-so-favorite things to do is have to come up with what to cook. Especially in this family. Part of the trouble is trying to keep a menu fresh each week and to find something that everyone will sit down and actually eat.
Me, I am a meat lover. Anything meat, I will eat (did I just come up with a new catch phrase?) Pork, Beef, Chicken, Emu, Gator, Squirrel, you name it. Snake, Stingray, have no problem just as long as it comes from the proper parts of the animal. Cow tongue, not happening. Reproductive organs, not making the plate. And not real fond of innards either, unless we are talking about Goose Liver – Foie Gras.
Of course, to me, every meal needs to be served with a starch – Potatoes, Rice, Grits, Pasta, and my all time favorite – Tater Tots. And then some type of bread; Rolls, Cuban, French, Pita. To me, I can stop right there. That is a balanced meal in my opinion. Meat, Potatoes and Bread.
However, planning what others are going to eat, that becomes a bit more tricky. Weekly, I sit down an plan a menu that I hope will satisfy everyone’s taste. Why, you ask? Well, first it aides in the shopping for the week. Second, it takes out the “What are we doing for dinner tonight”.
Menu is posted on the fridge each Sunday. It takes into account who will be eating, any special events taking pass during the week, what the weather might be like, the gravitational pull of the moon, and planetary alignments. Hey, I am cooking for a French Woman and a 7 year old! For instance, last Sunday was the Daytona 500. Do not see us making Peking Duck. Menu that day was Burgers, Dogs, Chips, Pasta Salad, Baked Beans, and Tater Tots. if it might be a rainy week, will try to mix in more comfort foods, such as soups and casseroles, though we tend to make a casserole dish every week. Great left overs.
Left Overs! That is a very important part in planning. Years ago, I would plan 7 full menus, one for each day of the week. Problem was that my Thursday, the fridge would be stuffed with all the meals we did not finish. So you ask, why not make smaller portions? Could, but who would not make a Meatloaf that they could not eat on later in the week. Do you cook a Turkey at Thanksgiving so that you do not have sandwich meat for Friday? Please, be real. Yes, fish dishes tend to be a one night stand, and for good reason. Other things like soups and sandwiches are best served day of.
So, this weeks menu has been put on paper and posted to the fridge. Some of the selections are Meatloaf, Tilapi, Chicken Harriet, Chicken with Yellow Rice and Black Beans, and a nice Pot Roast at the end of the week with Potatoes and Carrots.
Call for reservations!
Feb 24, 2013
Pole Vault Highlight Video
This was a neat project putting it together. Found old video clips from when I was in college.
Feb 24, 2013
Daytona – The Den
I am sitting here in anticipation of one of my favorite events of the year, the Daytona 500! 43 cars traveling 500 miles an hour for 200 laps. Yes, laps 25 through 195 are ho hum, and a great time to take a nap. But you never want to miss the beginning or end of this race. Total adrenaline rush, edge of your seat, hold your breathe, wait for it to happen racing.
The Daytona is not like any other race all year long, not the Brickyard, not Talladega, nothing. Not even the summer race at Daytona. The 500 is a one of a kind in my opinion. I like the team motto of “Checker or Wrecker” mentality these drivers assume. Talk about reality tv. This race sets the tone for the rest of the season.
Have the hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans and cold beverages ready to go. Lets not for get tater tots!
Been a good week. Celebrated Tyler’s 7th birthday with flare. Can’t believe how quick he is growing up. Thank you to all of our friends for making his day so special.
Going to be another busy week at Berkeley. New project, building out an online business directory for our parents and alumni. Funny how those on the outside think that this is going to be an afternoon project and then they can’t comprehend when I tell them I am looking at 4 to 6 weeks of programming and testing.
Just finished a personal project. Took old VHS tapes of me pole vaulting and created a highlight DVD. Really came out well and I hope to have it up on the website soon. Also can’t believe it was over 20 years ago that I last picked up a pole. Those were the good days.
Been doing a lot of reading lately, just for pleasure. I highly encourage everyone to turn the tube off, disconnect for the internet and mobile devices and pick up a book as often as you can. Currently I am reading a book by Carl Hiaason “Sick Puppy”. Of course, at the same time, I am reading Christopher Paolini’s “Brisingr”, third book in the Inheritance series. The movie “Eragon” was based off of his first book.
Recently finished James Patterson’s book “Kiss the Girls”. Great read and highly intense. Have not seen the movie yet. Heard the movie was pretty good too.
Signing off for now. Already anticipating my next blog post :-).
War Eagle!
More DetailsFeb 1, 2013
The Den – 2.1.13
Let me apologize for the recent emails notifications that you have received from our website. We are trying out a new plugin to keep you informed of new and exciting posts and updates to the website.The username and password that you received really have no signification. For the notification system, we had to create accounts for everyone. To access the website, the username is still “visitor” and the password is “maranatha”.
This has been a crazy week. As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been working with the Berkeley Broadcast Network, or BBN as we like to refer to ourselves. And we were busy this week. Tuesday we broadcasted a huge basketball game between Berkeley and Jesuit (who is #1 in the state of Florida). Then on Wednesday, we turned around and broadcasted the Regional Quarterfinal soccer match versus Frostproof High School. It was a major victory for Berkeley
Today, for the first time in school history, the BBN broadcasted the Grandparents’ Day performance. With a packed house, we showcasted the Lower, Middle, and Upper Division performances around the world. I have to admit that the response was overwhelming. It really made us all feel good to make such a deference and make such an impact.
It is also nice know that we will be taking a break for a week before our next production.
More DetailsJan 27, 2013
1.27.13 Den Post
2013! OK. It is here. Now what? Well, first the Mayan’s were wrong, again. No surprise. Not sure what manual they were reading. Looks like I am still going to have to pay off all of those Christmas bills after all.
If you have not heard, I headed up a new Live Streaming club at Berkeley, the Berkeley Broadcast Network (or BBN as we so affectionate refer to it). We started in August of 2012 and since then have produced and broadcast some 25+ events. Primarily, we have focused on sporting events; football, volleyball, soccer, basketball. It has been a ton of fun. The club is comprised of students who want to excel in this field. They schedule, run, setup and produce the events.
Time has come that I had to put my truck to rest. The Durango served me well for the past 13 years, and as hard as it was to let it go, I did. I am now sporting a Dodge Journey 2013. It is a nice ride. Funny, I continually get comments from others, those that have seen my Durango, asking if I am totally in love with my new car. Interesting, these people have only “seen” my old truck. I find it hard to answer their question as to “totally Love” the Journey. Maybe it is that I am not a materialistic person. To me, a vehicle serves a single purpose, get you from point A to point B. Yes, I could have had it outfitted with all the bells and whistles. But why? Will that keep me safer? Will it protect Tyler or Katia? Personally, I am internally pleased that I now have a reliable vehicle to travel in. Love? It is just a car right? Just a possession.
I am not going to complain about having AC or a third row of seats in my station wagon on steroids. It is a nice ride. Do I miss my Durango? Every day. In 10 years will I miss the Journey when I have to trade it in or turn it over to Tyler for his 16th birthday, probably so.
Anyways, as I promised, more stories and news from now on.
More Details